Marine terminal facility



MARINE TERMINAL FACILITY 'Filed Nov. 10', 1966 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR P Gordon L.ScoH

Dec. 3, 1968 e. L. SCOTT 1 3,414,143

MARINE TERMINAL FACILITY Filed Nov. 10, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 GordonLSCO'H INVENTOR United States Patent 3,414,143 MARINE TERMINAL FACILITYGordon L. Scott, 1410 NE. Marine Drive, Portland, Oreg. 97211 Filed Nov.10, 1966, Ser. No. 593,548 9 Claims. (Cl. 214-14) ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE The terminal facility comprises a crane with spaced pedestalssupporting an elongated trolley-supporting frame spanning the pedestals,one pedestal being movable along a path defined along a wharf or pierand the other pedestal being movable along a path adjacent the Wharfdefined along a bottom underlying the water which floats vessels mooredat the facility.

This invention relates to a marine terminal facility, and moreparticularly to crane apparatus which may be employed in a terminalfacility located adjacent a body of water, to transfer loads to and froma cargo-carrying vessel docked in the facility.

To obtain efficient and practical operation in such a facility, thereare a number of factors which must be considered. For instance, andconsidering a typical ship loading operation, it is usually preferablein such a facility to moor a vessel in a given location alongside awharf or pier, and to accomplish all loading from one side of the vesseland without subsequent moving of the vessel from its original position.Thus, any crane apparatus used to handle loads with a vessel tied up asindicated should be capable of reaching from one side of the vessel anylocation on the vessel where loads are intended to be placed.

Additionally, it is desirable that such crane apparatus neither occupyan excessive amount of space on a dock, nor obstruct any channel orwaterway along which ships move into and out of the facility.

The size and breadth of beam characterizing ships constructed in recentyears have introduced special problems. Further explaining, the usualwharf or pier crane includes a cantilevered boom which is swung downover a ship in the reaching of different locations thereon. Where a shiphas considerable breadth of beam, a boom of comparable length isrequired, which makes necessary the inclusion in the crane of arelatively massive counterweight for the purpose of properly balancingthe boom. Many existing wharfs or piers are incapable of properlysupporting the heavy loading which such a crane produces withoutextensive modification. Increased cost is involved in building any newfacility capable of mounting the crane. The crane itself represents aconsiderable capital outlay. Even where suitable provision is made forcounterbalancing the boom, there are other problems which must beconsidered, such as providing proper stability whereby the crane maywithstand wind extremes in the locality where the crane is installed,providing necessary clearance to accommodate the boom when the crane ismoved, etc.

A general object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide, ina terminal facility of the type indicated, novel crane apparatus fortransferring loads to and from a vessel docked in the facility.

More particularly, an object of the invention is to provide suchapparatus which is particularly suited to transfer loads to and fromrelatively broad beamed vessels, without the disadvantages noted abovein connection with conventional constructions.

Another object is to provide such apparatus wherein the crane ispartially supported by means located to one side of a wharf or otherloading platform in the facility, with 3,414,143 Patented Dec. 3, 1968such supporting means so organized as not to interfere with the movementof a vessel to a moored position beside the wharf.

According to the invention, a crane is contemplated featuring anelongated, elevated, trolley-carrying frame which, in operativeposition, extends transversely of a moored vessel. A lifting beam orother assembly depending from a trolley on the frame may be used toraise and lower loads and to move them laterally of the vessel.Providing support for the frame and trolley are a pair of spaced-apartpedestals which the frame spans adjacent the top of the pedestals. Witha ship moored beside the wharf, the pedestals straddle the ship. One ofthe pedestals is mounted for movement along a path defined along thewharf or pier. The other pedestal, referred to as a marine pedestal, ismounted for movement along another path defined along the bottom whichunderlies the body of water floating the vessel. Because this other pathis submerged in water, it need not interfere with normal movement of avessel into a position for mooring. By the inclusion of such otherpedestal, the frame and associated structure is effectively stabilizedwithout excessive burdening of the dock or wharf.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide such apparatus wherethe marine pedestal which moves along a submerged path includes afloatation chamber effective through being buoyed by the Water toprovide partial support for the pedestal.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a terminalfacility of the type indicated, which also comprises novel dry dockmeans located adjacent one end of the path which is submerged, forreceiving the marine pedestal. It is contemplated that the crane may beop erated to'move the pedestal into a chamber in the dry dock meanswhich may be pumped free of 'water, to facilitate the inspection andmaintenance of the base of the pedestal.

Another object is to provide novel scanning means adjacent the base ofthe pedestal which moves along the submerged path, adapted to enablemonitoring of the conditions of the path over which the pedestal moves.

These and other objects and advantages are attained by the invention,and will become more fully apparent as the description which follows isread in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates, in perspective, portions of a terminal facilityembodying crane apparatus as contemplated;

FIG. 2 illustrates, on an enlarged scale, portions of the base of apedestal forming part of the crane apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but illustrating a modified form ofthe invention;

FIG. 4 is a somewhat simplified plan view, showing on a reduced scalethe terminal facility of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but illustrating a terminal facilityaccording to yet another modification of the invention.

Turning now to the drawings, and with reference first of all to FIG. 1,shown generally at 10 is a terminal facility including an elongated pieror platform 12 located above and adjacent a body of water 14 in a slipbeside the pier. Moored alongside the pier is a ship or floatingcargocarrier 18.

Terminal facility 10 includes a traveling crane designated at 20. Ingeneral terms, crane 20 comprises a pair of spaced-apart pedestals 24,26, and an elongated, elevated substantially horizontal frame 22 joinedto and spanning the upper extremities of the pedestals. During unloadingof ship 18, frame 22 extends transversely of the ship, and the ship isstraddled by pedestals 24, 26 which are located on opposite sides of theship.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, pedestal 24 comprises apair of elongated, spaced-apart, substantially upright legs 24a, 24b,with upper end fastened adjacent one end of the elongated frame. Thelower ends of the legs are joined together by a connecting member 240.Mounted on the pedestal adjacent the base of leg 24a is a truck assembly28, including multiple flanged wheels 28a. Mounted on the pedestaladjacent the base of leg 24b is a similar truck assembly 30 journalingflanged wheels 30a. The wheels of the truck assemblies ride upon anelongated rail 32 which extends along the length of the pier andfunctions to define a travel path for a pedestal 24.

The wheels in the truck assemblies are rotated under power to producemovement of the pedestal. Thus, shown adjacent the top of the truckassemblies are a pair of motors 34, 36, which may be electric motors,and which have their output shafts suitably connected to the wheels inthe truck assemblies.

Pedestal 26, which is the marine pedestal, has a greater length in avertical direction than pedestal 24. While the top of the marinepedestal may normally be at approximately the same elevation as the topof pedestal 24, the base of the pedestal extends below the base ofpedestal 24 and is submerged in the body of water 14 which serves tofloat ship or vessel 18. Pedestal 26, like pedestal 24, may comprise apair of spaced-apart legs 26a, 26b with upper ends suitably joined toframe 22. Supporting the base of the pedestal are a pair of truckassemblies 36, 38, including wheels 36a and wheels 380, respectively.

With the bottom end of pedestal 26 submerged in water, with movement ofthe crane the wheels which support the base of this pedestal must moveover a submerged supporting surface. Being submerged, a certain amountof debris might be expected to collect on any such surface. To promoteease of rolling of the wheels with minimum impairment of their abilityto ride over a surface by reason of a foreign object residing on suchsurface, it is contemplated that wheels 36a, 38a have a somewhat largerdiameter than the flanged wheels supporting pedestal 24. As a furtherfeature, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 and2, it is contemplated that the wheels in truck assemblies 36, 38comprise pneumatic wheels with outer casings, such as that shown at 41,which are inflated with air whereby the outer perimeters of the wheelsare resiliently yieldable in a radially inward direction. With suchpneumatic wheels, the pedestal is enabled to ride over the usual foreignobject without severely jarring or disrupting the position of thepedestal.

Pedestal 26 also includes means defining a floatation chamber at leastpartially submerged in body of water 18 which floats the vessel. Thebuoyancy of this chamber provides partial support for pedestal 26 andthe elongated frame which is joined to its top. The chamber, indicatedby the reference numeral 42 in FIG. 2, comprises a space containing airbounded on opposite sides by side plates 44, 46 and along the top andbottom by top and bottom plates 48, 50. As probably best seen in FIG. 1,the side plates have forward and rear margins which curve inwardly,whereby opposite ends of chamber 42 are closed off. The rounded endsproduced by the inwardly curving forward and rear margins of the sideplates serve to streamline the structure defining the floatationchamber, and thus to reduce the resistance the body of water offers topedestal movement through the water.

The buoyancy of the floatation chamber may be adjusted by changing theamount of ballast (water) in the chamber. The buoyancy of the floatationchamber is maintained below the level causing actual floating of themarine pedestal.

The wheels in truck assemblies 36, 38 are also rotated under power.Thus, shown generally at 52, 54 are motors which are supported on thepedestal adjacent the top of the structure defining floatation chamber42. These motors, which also may be electrically energized, areoperatively connected, as by shaft 56 and the gearing partiallyillustrated in FIG. 2, to the truck assembly wheels for the purpose ofrotating the wheels.

The motors are shown disposed on pedestal 26 above the level of the bodyof water 14. In this way the motors are made more accessible in theevent that maintenance or repair work is required. Further, with such amounting there is no need to provide special motors capable of runningwhile being submerged in water.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, thepneumatic wheels which support the base of pedestal 26 travel along anelongated track 60 which extends along the bottom under the body ofwater 14 in a direction generally parallelling rail 32. This rack whichdefines a path of travel for the pneumatic wheels has a top surfacealong its length which is substantially flat and which the pneumaticwheels rolls over on movement of the crane. The track may be made of anumber of materials including concrete as shown (preferable in saltwater harbors), or wood (which in some facilities may be preferable byreason of permitting ease of com struction).

It is contemplated in the invention that where pedestal 26 includeswheels supporting it as described which are not restrained with respectto lateral movement by the track over which they move, that a motorcontrol be provided for motors 34, 36 and motors 52, 54, whereby theymay be run at an exactly related speed and the flanged wheels 28a, 30asupporting pedestal 24 travel at the same speed as the pneumatic wheels36a, 38a supporting pedestal 26. In this way, when the motors areactuated the two pedestals are caused to move along at the same speedwtih frame 22 maintained in its proper transverse position relative toship 18.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 3, the base ofpedestal 26 is shown supported by truck assemblies including flangedwheels 62 which may be constructed similarly to flanged wheels 28a, 30adescribed for pedestal 24. With this modification of the invention apath is defined for travel of the wheels by a rail 64, which like track60 earlier described also extends along the bottom beneath body of water14. With this modification of the invention, where flanged wheels ridingon rails support both pedestals, the wheels, by being restrained by therails from relative lateral shifting, contribute to maintaining frame 22in a proper transverse position with respect to the rails and vessel.

Track 60, and rail 64 in the case of the modification of the inventionshown in FIG. 3, are located well below the base of any vessel which thefacility is intended to handle. In this way movements of any vesseladjacent the wharf are in no way impaired.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, electronic scanning units 65, 66 maybe provided adjacent the base of pedestal 26, at opposite ends of thestructure defining the floatation chamber, permitting monitoring of thesurface of the track over which the pedestal moves. Considering scanningunit 66, such may comprise a suitable water-tight housing mounted on thepedestal, and enclosing a light source 70 and a television camera 72.Light emanating from the light source illuminates a region of the trackadjacent the pedestal, and a picture of the track is picked up by thecamera to be relayed to a control cab for the crane, to be described.

The base of the pedestal further includes fenders 74, 76 at oppositeends of the base of the pedestal, for clearing the track of any largeforeign articles which may become positioned over the track. Thefenders, which are plow shaped, are secured to the pedestal with theirbases closely adjacent the top of the track, and function to divert toone side of the track any foreign objects which they move into withmovement of the crane.

Projecting from the pedestal adjacent each fender is a feeler 77including telescoping sections 77a which slide over one another topermit contraction of the feeler should its outer end come up against aforeign object. Mounted on the outer end of the feeler is a switchincluding a button 78 which is actuated on the feeler engaging anobject. Such switch may be in the control circuit for light source 70and camera 72, and may function to start the camera and energize thelight source when actuated to permit remote viewing of track 60.

Elongated frame 22 includes structure defining a track 80 extendingalong adjacent the underside thereof, and mounted for movement in asuitable manner along the length of this track is a trolley 82. Thetrolley has lines or cables 84 depending downwardly therefrom which areattached to a lifting beam 86 or other load attaching means adapted tobe secured in a suitable manner to a load whereby with raising of thelifting beam the load will be raised. In FIG. l'the load is representedby a box 88 and the lifting beam is secured in a suitable manner to thetop of this box.

Shown adjacent the one end of frame 22 is a machinery house 90. Motorswithin this house produce movement of the trolley along the length ofthe frame, and taking in and paying out of the lines depending from thetrolley to effect raising and lowering of the lifting beam. Not shown,for reasons of simplicity, are the usual drums, pulleys and associatedstructure by which with operation of the motors in the' machinery housesuch movement of the trolley and lines 84 is effected.

Further describing the crane, a control house is shown at 96. This houseshelters the operator of the crane, and is provided with the usualcontrols for controlling the actuation of the motors producing cranemovement, and the motors producing trolley movement and movement of thelifting lines described. Also provided within the house is a televisionreceiver connected to the television cameras of the scanning units 66,68.

While a particular crane has been described including a single trolleymovable along the track, obviously the number of such tracks andtrolleys may be changed depending upon the size of the facility wherethe crane is located and the flexibility desired in the crane.

The operation of'the crane described and the various advantages of thecrane should be obvious from the above description. Ordinarily, with aship or vessel approaching the pier for mooring, the crane is moved toadjacent one end of the pier where it is out of the way, and mooring ofthe vessel may be accomplished with greatest facility. With the vesseltied up along the pier, the crane may be moved along the track and raildescribed to place frame 22 over the vesselwith pedestals 24, 26straddling the vessel. With properlocation of the trolley on frame 22,and. appropriate movement of the crane, there is no area over the top ofthevessel which cannot be reached with lowering of the lifting beam. Nolarge counterweights are required to obtain balance. Frame 22 may have alength considerably in excess of the usual cantilevered boom in aconventional facility to accommodate handling of the very broad beamedvessels which are being constructed today. The crane has minimal mass,and only a portion of its weight supported by the pier with theremainder being supported by the underwater track and the buoyantfloatation chamber described.

Occasionally, the base of pedestal 26 will require servicing, and tofacilitate such servicing a construction is contemplated for thefacility best illustrated in FIG. 4.

As can be seen in FIG. 4, pier 12 extends out into the body of waterfrom a shoreline generally indicated at 100. Rail 32 and track 60generally parallel the pier and extend out at an angle (approximately 90in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 4) relative toshoreline 100. Provided at the shoreline adjacent the end of track 60which is nearer the shoreline is a dry dock 102 comprising a chamber 104from which water may be pumped. Chamber 104 includes sides 106, a base108 which has the end of track 60 extending over it, and gates shown ina closed position in solid outline in FIG. 4 but openable to thepositions shown in dashed outline to open up the dry dock. With thegates swung open the base of pedestal 26 may be moved into chamber 104by shifting of the crane to the right in FIG. 4. The dry dock furtherincludes a pump, shown schematically at 112, operable on being energizedto expel water from chamber 104. With the crane located with the base ofits pedestal 26 in chamber 104, and with gates 110 closed to form awater-tight closure for the chamber, all water in the chamber may bedischarged from the chamber, with a dry region resulting surrounding thebase of the pedestal facilitating its servicing. With water reintroducedto the chamber, the gates may be swung open and the crane placed back inservice.

Considering the modification of the invention shown in FIG. 5, in thisfacility a wharf is shown in the facility which extends generallyparallel to a shoreline 116. A dry dock for pedestal 26 is shown at 118,which is adjacent the shoreline and spaced beyond one end of the wharf.Track 60 and rail 32 have reaches which parallel the shortline, shown at60a and 32a in-FIG. 5, and reaches 60b, 3217 which curve inland about asubstantially common center. Dry dock 118 like dry dock 102 includesopenable gates, shown at 120, and a pump, shown at 122, for expellingwater from a dry dock chamber shown at 124. Curving reach 60b of thetrack extends into the dry dock chamber. With such an organization thecrane on traveling along the track and rail toward the dry dock may haveits marine pedestal swung in an arc to move it into chamber 124. Withthe pedestal in chamber 124, water may be expelled from the chamber topermit servicing as in the modification of the invention discussed inconnection with FIG. 4.

With the modification of the invention shown in FIG. 5, on the craneswinging to move its pedestal 26 into the dry dock, the wheelssupporting this pedestal must travel at a somewhat faster speed than thewheels supporting the inland pedestal or pedestal 24. The crane,therefore, is provided with a control system for its motors permittingthis differential in wheel speed.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a terminal facility including an elongated platform and a body ofwater extending along one side of said platform, said body of waterbeing disposed over a bottom and having a surface at a lower elevationthan the elevation of said platform, crane apparatus for transferring aload between said platform and a cargo carrier floating on such watercomprising means defining a first elongated travel path extending alongthe platform,

a first pedestal having a base mounted for movement along said path,

means on said bottom defining a second elongated travel path which issubmerged in the body of water and is spaced laterally outwardly intosaid body of water from said one side of the platform,

a second pedestal spaced from said first pedestal having a base belowthe base of the first pedestal mounted for movement along said secondpath, and

an elongated trolley-carrying frame mounted upon and spanning said firstand second pedestals, 'movable along said paths with movement of saidpedestals.

2. The terminal facility of claim 1, wherein said means defining saidsecond travel path includes an elongated horizontally disposedsupporting surface, and said second pedestal includes a truck supportingits base with pneumatic wheel means adapted to ride on said surface.

3. The terminal facility of claim 2, wherein said means defining saidfirst travel path includes an elongated horizontally disposed rail, andsaid first pedestal includes a truck supporting its base with flangedwheel means adapted to ride on said rail.

4. The terminal facility of claim 1 where said second pedestal furthercomprises means forming a floatation chamber located on said secondpedestal in a position at least partially submerged in the body ofWater, and the buoyancy of said chamber partially supports said secondpedestal.

5. The terminal facility of claim 3, which further includespower-operated means for moving the wheel means of the trucks for saidfirst and second pedestals in timed relation to each other.

6. The terminal facility of claim 1, which further comprises dry dockmeans including a chamber from which Water may be discharged locatedadjacent an end of said second path, adapted to receive the base of saidsecond pedestal.

7. The terminal facility of claim 6, wherein said platform extendsoutwardly toward the body of water from a shoreline bounding the body ofwater, said first and second paths extend at an angle relative to theshoreline, and

said dry dock means is located adjacent the set of ends of I said pathsnearer to said shoreline.

8. The terminal facility of claim 6, wherein said platform extends alonga shoreline bounding the body of water, said first and second paths haveone set of reaches substantially paralleling the shoreline, and a secondset of reaches curving inland about a common center, and said dry dockmeans is located adjacent said second set of reaches.

9. The terminal facility of claim 1, wherein said second pedestalincludes a truck supporting its base with submerged wheel means adaptedto travel on said second path, and which further includes a motor foroperating said wheel means mounted on said second pedestal above saidbody of water.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 304,040 8/1884 Snee 212-151,440,065 12/1922 Donnelly 2l4-14 2,360,470 10/1944 Brown 2l2143,104,766 9/1963 Sasadi 214--14 3,247,975 4/1966 Holt et a1. 21213GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner.

F. E. WERNER, Assistant Examiner.

